The AFC Champions League (ACL) 2015 had the first part of the Matchday 6 of the group stage on 5 May where Kashima Antlers were held to a close 3-2 loss by FC Seoul (KOR), getting the final record of 2-4-0 in Group H and eliminated without advancing to the knockout stage.
Urawa Reds already with no more chance for advancement out of Group G grabbed the first and only win of this year’s ACL campaign by beating Brisbane Roar (AUS) in Australia and finished with the record of one win, four losses and a draw.

Both Kashima and FC Seoul standing with six points, the winner of the match was destined to move up to the next round. Forward Akasaki Shuhei, making his first official match start in this season in place of injured forward Kanazaki Mu, aggressively led Kashima’s early offence. 
In the 8th minute, after receiving diagonal pass from midfielder Doi Shoma, Akasaki right-footed it into the goal for the opener. Akasaki again created crucial moment in the 17th minute by rushing in front of the goal for a cross by defender Nishi Daigo, but this time it only threatened the opponents, failing to widen the lead.
In the 28th minute, midfielder Endo Yasushi hit the right side post at a free-kick opportunity, and midfielder Lucas Fernandes Caio responded to the rebound and fired a short-range shot only to have it denied by the goalkeeper.
Then in the 35th minute, Kashima gave away the ball in the midfield and eventually allowed a corner-kick to the opponents. FC Seoul took advantage of this chance to tie the match by having defender Lee Wonghee surge in at far post for a header.

In the 51th minute of the second half, following a short corner-kick, forward Yun Illok fed a cross to defender Osmar Barba Ibanez on the other side, and he headed it in to take the first lead for his side.
Kashima sent forward Takasaki Hiroyuki in place of Akasaki in the 68th minute, and in the 71st, replaced Lucas Fernandes Caio with midfielder Motoyama Masashi, both to create opportunities to fight back. Then in the 78th, midfielder Shibasaki Gaku, out of a scramble in front of FC Seoul’s goal, calmly put a floating shot into the goal to tie the match with good observation of the opposing goalkeeper’s move.
FC Seoul also on the brink of elimination kept attacking Kashima’s goal, in the 88th minute by forward Go Yohan’s shot through a counter-attack, and in the 90th with a close range shot by Everton Leandro dos Santos Pinto, who had got onto the pitch earlier, but both were cleared by outstanding responses by Kashima’s goalkeeper Sogahata Hitoshi.
Finally in the additional time, the tie match was broken by FC Seoul’s another substitute forward Molina Uribe, who took the ball in front of goal and left-footed it right after into the left corner of Kashima’s goal.

As a result, FC Seoul clinched their spot as the second team coming out of the group with nine points and 2-1-3 record. In the other match, defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS) defeated Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), already with the round of 16 spot, 2-0 in China, and secured their third place with eight points. Kashima ended up with fourth with six points and 2-4-0 record.

Meanwhile, Urawa on the road in Australia welcomed forward Koroki Shinzo back onto the starting line-up from more than one month of absence due to an injury. He scored the first goal of the match after rushing behind the defenders in the 24th minute. The goal also was his career 12th in the ACL contests which now ranks first among all Japanese players in the ACL.
Urawa in the 57th minute replaced Koroki with forward Muto Yuki, who soon after received a cross from forward Takagi Toshiyuki, went by a defender and scored the club’s second goal with his left foot. Although they allowed one goal to Brisbane in the 70th minute, Urawa maintained the lead until the time-up for the first win in this tournament.

Group G now has Beijing Guoan (CHN) advancing a top with 11 points after drawing to Suwon Samsung FC (KOR) who also had clinched the round of 16 spot before the last match. Brisbane finished third with seven points as Urawa were not able to move out of the bottom of the group with four points.

Head Coaches' Comment

Antonio Carlos Cerezo, Head Coach (Kashima Antlers)
We are sorry to our supporters for not being able to meet their expectations. Not only the players and the club, I lost my individual battle. Generally our players had a strong will to win and achieve something, and we played how we wanted to play as a team. But we lacked composure around the penalty box and gave away goals through set-pieces, which we practiced on until yesterday. Defending set-pieces has been our problem even in the league matches this season, and we have to correct it immediately. We also made few side changes, which is also a big mistake we made. I am very disappointed with it. The last goal we allowed late in the match was just from our mistake. I think our players don’t feel that they got beaten, but if you give away two goals through set-pieces, that makes it very difficult for you to win the match.

AFC Champions League 2015

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